Services

Council drops its fees for sex clubs

BASILDON Council is “inviting” strip clubs to the town, according to critics, after it emerged it has halved its sex licence fees.

From next month, the Tory administration will charge £1,000, down from £2,000, when granting a licence to sex establishments.

The move makes it the second cheapest in South Essex – and fears have been raised sex clubs could proliferate in the borough.

Basildon Council has insisted a London court ruling dictated the price reduction, but its charge dwarfs Southend’s fee of £6,420.

Byron Taylor, the leader of the opposition Labour party, said: “It makes clear the Conservative vision of Basildon – we are open for business to the sex trade.

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable.

“I suspect these companies will act like any other business – they look for location and costs.

Basildon is well located within the South Essex corridor and is now a very cheap place to apply for a licence and to renew it on an annual basis.”

The new charges were approved as part of the council’s 2014/15 budget.

Sex establishments are defined as a sex shop, a sex cinema, or a sexual entertainment venue.

There are two strip clubs in Basildon – Katz, in Time Square, and Mac’s Bar and Cafe, in Paycock Road.

The move comes after Westminster was ordered to change its policy by the Court of Appeal last May. It was told its charges, at nearly £30,000 per licence, were unreasonable.

Councillor David Abrahall, chairman of Basildon’s licensing committee, said: “Our fee setting has to take into consideration relevant case law. The case of Hemming V Westminster City Council is particularly relevant to sex establishment licensing and is one which every local authority will have to have regard to.

“At this stage, we don’t know what impact this change will have on the number of applications we are likely to receive, but the case affects every other local authority, too.

“Any sex establishment has to advertise in the local press and put up site notices to indicate that an application is being submitted and there is the opportunity for people to object.”

Comments

The Council really doesn't have much choice - it has been told to do it by the law. The critics are therefore merely making a cheap point.

The Council really doesn't have much choice - it has been told to do it by the law. The critics are therefore merely making a cheap point.Jack222

The Council really doesn't have much choice - it has been told to do it by the law. The critics are therefore merely making a cheap point.

Score: 7

DutchCyclist
5:16pm Tue 11 Mar 14

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.DutchCyclist

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.

Score: 7

keepitreal
5:39pm Tue 11 Mar 14

Free lap dance for tory councillors

Free lap dance for tory councillorskeepitreal

Free lap dance for tory councillors

Score: 2

profondo asbo
6:20pm Tue 11 Mar 14

the red light got the green light

the red light got the green lightprofondo asbo

the red light got the green light

Score: 9

boo beckett
6:28pm Tue 11 Mar 14

Of course the judges in the Court of Appeal chose in favour of the strip clubs. Any man who goes to work in a wig, a dress and a blouse is going to be the first through the doors to get his backside spanked whilst dressed as a nazi.

Of course the judges in the Court of Appeal chose in favour of the strip clubs. Any man who goes to work in a wig, a dress and a blouse is going to be the first through the doors to get his backside spanked whilst dressed as a nazi.boo beckett

Of course the judges in the Court of Appeal chose in favour of the strip clubs. Any man who goes to work in a wig, a dress and a blouse is going to be the first through the doors to get his backside spanked whilst dressed as a nazi.

Score: 9

ThisYear
7:00pm Tue 11 Mar 14

Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?

Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?ThisYear

Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?

Score: -1

Discouraged
8:13pm Tue 11 Mar 14

Building all over the parks, getting into serious debt building the sports centre, multiple pound shops 99p shops and charity shops with pawnbrokers and five second hand shops Lovely, and now the cherry on the top: cheap rent sex shops. Well done Basildon Council.

Building all over the parks, getting into serious debt building the sports centre, multiple pound shops 99p shops and charity shops with pawnbrokers and five second hand shops Lovely, and now the cherry on the top: cheap rent sex shops. Well done Basildon Council.Discouraged

Building all over the parks, getting into serious debt building the sports centre, multiple pound shops 99p shops and charity shops with pawnbrokers and five second hand shops Lovely, and now the cherry on the top: cheap rent sex shops. Well done Basildon Council.

Score: 6

Happy Chickie
6:45am Wed 12 Mar 14

boo beckett wrote…

Of course the judges in the Court of Appeal chose in favour of the strip clubs. Any man who goes to work in a wig, a dress and a blouse is going to be the first through the doors to get his backside spanked whilst dressed as a nazi.

LOL - brilliant comment.

[quote][p][bold]boo beckett[/bold] wrote:
Of course the judges in the Court of Appeal chose in favour of the strip clubs. Any man who goes to work in a wig, a dress and a blouse is going to be the first through the doors to get his backside spanked whilst dressed as a nazi.[/p][/quote]LOL - brilliant comment.Happy Chickie

boo beckett wrote…

Of course the judges in the Court of Appeal chose in favour of the strip clubs. Any man who goes to work in a wig, a dress and a blouse is going to be the first through the doors to get his backside spanked whilst dressed as a nazi.

LOL - brilliant comment.

Score: 0

Kim Gandy
9:41am Wed 12 Mar 14

And Labour are so squeaky clean aren't they?

www.labour25.com

And Labour are so squeaky clean aren't they?
www.labour25.comKim Gandy

And Labour are so squeaky clean aren't they?

www.labour25.com

Score: 0

Kim Gandy
9:42am Wed 12 Mar 14

ThisYear wrote…

Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?

Maybe you'll see them there eh

[quote][p][bold]ThisYear[/bold] wrote:
Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?[/p][/quote]Maybe you'll see them there ehKim Gandy

ThisYear wrote…

Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?

Maybe you'll see them there eh

Score: 0

Kim Gandy
9:43am Wed 12 Mar 14

DutchCyclist wrote…

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.

It sends out the message that Labour are the biggest hypocrites going.

Or haven't they been listening to all this stuff about PIE and some of their senior politicians in Westminster.

[quote][p][bold]DutchCyclist[/bold] wrote:
“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.[/p][/quote]It sends out the message that Labour are the biggest hypocrites going.
Or haven't they been listening to all this stuff about PIE and some of their senior politicians in Westminster.Kim Gandy

DutchCyclist wrote…

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.

It sends out the message that Labour are the biggest hypocrites going.

Or haven't they been listening to all this stuff about PIE and some of their senior politicians in Westminster.

Score: 1

Feminism is Dead
3:25pm Wed 12 Mar 14

Errrr...not that I'm condoning these establishments at all, but there's a big difference between lapdancing joints and sex clubs.

Errrr...not that I'm condoning these establishments at all, but there's a big difference between lapdancing joints and sex clubs.Feminism is Dead

Errrr...not that I'm condoning these establishments at all, but there's a big difference between lapdancing joints and sex clubs.

Score: 2

whateverhappened
3:43pm Wed 12 Mar 14

£6420 for southend ....jees. what sea side resort hasn't got a bangbang bar come SBC sort it out

£6420 for southend ....jees. what sea side resort hasn't got a bangbang bar come SBC sort it out

Score: -1

ThisYear
4:10pm Wed 12 Mar 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

ThisYear wrote…

Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?

Maybe you'll see them there eh

Will I see you there?

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]ThisYear[/bold] wrote:
Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?[/p][/quote]Maybe you'll see them there eh[/p][/quote]Will I see you there?ThisYear

Kim Gandy wrote…

ThisYear wrote…

Can we be assured of certain councillors visiting any such club once or six times a month to keep an eye on 'things'?

Maybe you'll see them there eh

Will I see you there?

Score: 0

Gay Ray
4:13pm Wed 12 Mar 14

I have a feeling that Byron might prefer the sort of clubs I frequent and I wouldn't blame him.

I have a feeling that Byron might prefer the sort of clubs I frequent and I wouldn't blame him.Gay Ray

I have a feeling that Byron might prefer the sort of clubs I frequent and I wouldn't blame him.

Score: 3

Gay Ray
4:29pm Wed 12 Mar 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

DutchCyclist wrote…

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.

It sends out the message that Labour are the biggest hypocrites going.

Or haven't they been listening to all this stuff about PIE and some of their senior politicians in Westminster.

Can you explain any possible connection between PIE and lap dancing clubs as I don't get it. Next you'll be suggesting that all gays and lesbians are latent paedophiles and you wouldn't be the first to do so.

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]DutchCyclist[/bold] wrote:
“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.[/p][/quote]It sends out the message that Labour are the biggest hypocrites going.
Or haven't they been listening to all this stuff about PIE and some of their senior politicians in Westminster.[/p][/quote]Can you explain any possible connection between PIE and lap dancing clubs as I don't get it. Next you'll be suggesting that all gays and lesbians are latent paedophiles and you wouldn't be the first to do so.Gay Ray

Kim Gandy wrote…

DutchCyclist wrote…

“It sends out the message the exploitation of young women for sexual entertainment is acceptable." I'm afraid Byron it does not send out this message at all. I think you need to start living in the 21st Century, or at least the 20th Century.

It sends out the message that Labour are the biggest hypocrites going.

Or haven't they been listening to all this stuff about PIE and some of their senior politicians in Westminster.

Can you explain any possible connection between PIE and lap dancing clubs as I don't get it. Next you'll be suggesting that all gays and lesbians are latent paedophiles and you wouldn't be the first to do so.

Score: 1

Alekhine
5:03pm Wed 12 Mar 14

Well, it is one way of keeping the council's hands out of your pockets.

Well, it is one way of keeping the council's hands out of your pockets.Alekhine

Well, it is one way of keeping the council's hands out of your pockets.

Score: 1

ShipShape
6:07pm Wed 12 Mar 14

Why is that Councillor doing a cheeky fan dance with his board?

Why is that Councillor doing a cheeky fan dance with his board?ShipShape

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